The Belgian midfielder was among a number of Everton players to impress during a second-half renaissance orchestrated by the endeavour and invention of Steven Pienaar.

The South Africa midfielder was at the centre of Everton's most promising moves, constantly tormenting full-backs George McCartney and Phil Bardsley.

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Everton manager David Moyes

However, neither team will be satisfied with a point - with only one victory in their previous 10 matches apiece, both Sunderland and Everton were in desperate need of three festive points to reinvigorate their rapidly deflating league campaigns.

With Michael Turner unavailable because of a four-match suspension, Sunderland boss Steve Bruce turned to Paulo da Silva to partner John Mensah in central defence, while captain Lorik Cana replaced the injured Lee Cattermole in midfield.

Everton boss Dave Moyes had no such concerns, naming an unchanged XI from the team that started in the 1-1 draw against Birmingham.

The continuity in selection clearly benefitted the visitors, with Pienaar and Tim Cahill in particular dictating the tempo of the early exchanges with a series of neat interchanges and intelligent runs.

The duo were involved in the build-up as Leon Osman struck the outside of Marton Fulop's left-hand post with a sweetly struck, right-foot curling effort from the edge of the area.

But despite Everton's slick passing, the hosts took the lead with a classic striker's goal in the 17th minute.

Bent laid off a long defensive clearance into the path of Jones on the right wing on the halfway line.

The Trinidad and Tobago international surged forward and delivered an inch-perfect first-time cross for the onrushing Bent to head powerfully past Tim Howard for his 11th Premier League goal of the season.

The England striker could have added his 12th minutes later when Jordan Henderson's bye-line cutback found him unmarked inside the six-yard box, but his shot, destined for the bottom corner, was cleared off the goal-line by Heitinga.

Undeterred by their one-goal deficit, Everton continued to push forward, utilising the width offered by Pienaar on the left flank.

Saha fluffed two half-chances while Pienaar's deflected shot just about cleared Fulop's crossbar as Everton ended the half as they began.

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Sunderland manager Steve Bruce

In the opening 10 minutes of the second half Frenchman Saha saw a stinging right-footed volley skim past Fulop's right-hand post, but with options rapidly diminishing, Moyes introduced the power of Yakubu for Osman in the 69th minute.

The Nigerian's direct running had its desired effect as Sunderland were pinned inside their own half.

Paraguay international Da Silva almost stole a second goal against the run of play when his powerful 10-yard header from Andy Reid's free-kick was acrobatically tipped over the bar by Tim Howard on 75 minutes.

Pienaar became increasingly influential, switching flanks to the right as Sunderland's overworked defence began to crack in the closing 15 minutes.

And Everton were rewarded for their endeavours when Felliani's deft touch brought Hibbert's right-wing cross under control before he fired an unstoppable right-footed strike past Fulop.

Sunderland manager Steve Bruce: "It's horrific when you concede so late on. We have just gone too deep and it looked as if Everton were going to score.

"You're always disappointed to concede when you get so close to full time.

"I'm disappointed we couldn't keep a clean sheet. There are still improvements to be made, but if someone asked me at the start of the season that we would be 10th at Christmas, then I would have taken that."

Everton boss Dave Moyes: "I thought near enough from the start we just about completely dominated the game. They scored a very good goal and put us back.

"If we hadn't got anything out of the game it would have been a travesty. I thought the goal was reward for how the players have been playing in the last week or two.

"I think in Marouane Fellaini is probably the best midfielder in the country at the moment. He was exceptional today and his goal was reward for the way he played today."

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